Where to find finger-licking good ribs in Vancouver

There are a few ways to find delicious ribs in Vancouver, but the simplest way is to sniff them out. Every high quality barbecue joint will have that smoky, mouth-watering scent wafting through their front door and into the streets. It’s a sign that perfectly prepared ribs are waiting for you inside. When you’re craving a heaping helping of ribs, here’s where you’ll find them.

Modeled on a Prohibition-era speakeasy, Devil’s Elbow knows the importance of good drinks with great food. Their beer and whiskey lists are carefully selected to complement their amazing smokehouse fare. Like all great smokehouses, the pork back ribs are a highlight. Roasted over cherry wood and brushed with an apple bourbon sauce, these ribs are the perfect blend of smoky and sweet.

Peckinpah specializes in traditional North Carolina barbecue. Unlike the sweet, sticky and familiar Texas-style, the Carolina-style prefers the smokey, crisp and firm bite that’s only possible with a cookhouse smoker. Their ribs in particular take full advantage of the regional approach and are served with a chili-vinegar sauce that harkens back to America’s founding fathers. It’s the dedication to one particular style that sets Pekinpah apart from other BBQ hotspots in the city – drop in for a true taste of the Carolinas.

Specializing in simple and rustic Canadian cuisine, Edible Bistro is celebrated for its dedication to local sourcing and seasonal flavours. Their bison short ribs are a perfect example of their approach. Cooked up with a juniper thyme jus and served with wild berries and cauliflower, these ribs highlight everything that’s delicious about the West Coast. Edible will give you a master class in true Canadian cuisine.

Buckstop’s take on barbecue is simple: start with the best varieties of American Southern BBQ and prepare dishes exactly as they would be done in their home states. The ribs are a perfect example, available in either St. Louis- or Texas-style. Both varieties feature the smoky flavour you’d expect while highlighting what makes their particular regional variation so great. For the St. Louis ribs, the grilled style gives them a distinctive crunchy texture. The Texas ribs deliver fall-off-the-bone tender meat with that sticky sweetness favoured in the Lone Star State.

The Flying Pig is a restaurant best described as “nouveau Canadian,” putting a high-end, gastro spin on the best flavours the country has to offer. No matter what time of day you come in, there’s a rib dish that’s unlike anything you’ll have in the city. At lunch, it’s the braised beef short rib jumbo macaroni that’s baked with a cabernet mushroom cream sauce. In the evening, be sure to order the red wine braised beef short rib, which comes with a healthy portion of roasted bone marrow.

If you’re looking for ribs with a twist, head to Tuc Craft Kitchen. The contemporary fusion restaurant brings unique flavours to familiar favourites, ranging from bison made with fennel to pork belly in a star anise red wine reduction. Their signature ribs dish doesn’t use beef or pork, but lamb, along with a delicious orange glaze. The Middle Eastern inspired flavours will change your perspective on the typical rib dinner.

No list for almost any type of food in Vancouver would be complete without a nod to the city’s world-famous East Asian cuisine, and ShuRaku has the best Asian-style ribs in the city. Coated in a Japanese BBQ sauce, they’re deliciously tender and a nice departure from the Southern-style ribs you’ll find elsewhere. If you manage to resist simply ordering more ribs, be sure to check out the rest of the food options on offer. The menu is packed with fresh sushi and other Japanese delights, plus an extensive list of sake (which also goes great with ribs).

Good things come in small packages. That's especially true when you consider how much flavour can be packed into that classic pub-food favourite: the chicken wing. Whether you like 'em hot and spicy or sweet and tangy, chicken wings deliver big taste in a compact form. When you're craving a pile of yummy, sticky, chicken goodness, here's where you'll find it in Victoria.

Nachos may have been invented in Mexico, but they are enthusiastically embraced in Quebec City. Locals can't get enough! Whether you share them with a friend or keep them all to yourself, you can satisfy a case of the munchies with the delicious nachos available at these great city spots.

Tired of the same old same old? Switch it up a little and go on the hunt for a fabulous hot dog. This American street food is no longer just for ball parks and barbecues. Throughout Quebec City you'll find everything from the most basic steamed dog to gourmet hot dogs you never would have imagined.